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Molly Greacen: Bee Safe Neighborhood in Boulder

Posted:
06/13/2014 01:00:00 AM MDT

I want to let Boulder know about what our north Boulder neighborhood has achieved by working together in the last two months. A small group got together, concerned about pesticides that are killing bees. We decided to become Colorado's first “Bee Safe Neighborhood,” by getting pledges from neighbors to not use the toxic systemics/neonicotinoid insecticides on lawns and gardens. It quickly became an educational project, teaching ourselves and sharing that with our neighbors. (The chemicals are 5,000 to 7,000 times more toxic to bees than DDT.)

Within two weeks we had 21 volunteers, and in three weeks' time, we canvassed our neighborhood and got around 200 households willing to sign the pledge not to use these toxic chemicals. A number of us have become beekeepers too. It is a fantastic way to create community.

Part of our message is informing people that it is standard practice for nursery plants to be pre-treated by bee killing insecticides, which can last in the soil and plants up to five years. We want to support our local stores and nurseries, but cannot do that until they provide plants that are free of these chemicals. The whole industry will have to change. .

Bee Safe Neighborhood is a powerful instigator of change, and we want to other neighborhoods take up this challenge. We want Boulder to become a Bee Safe city, and a model for others.

The bees don't have a chance if we don't get rid of these poisons, and we don't have a chance without the bees.

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Check out http://www.livingsystemsinst.org, to get started or get in touch with me.

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